OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Daniel Persitz on the True Story Behind KEY OF GENIUS

Daniel Persitz paints a powerful portrait of virtuoso pianist Derek Paravicini in Key of Genius. Blind and autistic since birth, Derek communicates through music with astonishing fluency, and the film, based on Adam Ockelford’s memoir In the Key of Genius, captures not only his extraordinary gift but also the transformative mentorship that shaped it. Oscar-qualified after screenings at Cleveland, HollyShorts, Raindance, and the Los Angeles Diversity … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Daniel Persitz on the True Story Behind KEY OF GENIUS

OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Iain Forbes on AFTER DARK “How far would I go to help a stranger?”

Scottish-Norwegian filmmaker Iain Forbes has quickly emerged as one of Scandinavia’s most compelling new voices, blending taut storytelling with a sharp eye for human complexity. His latest short, After Dark, pushes these instincts to the forefront, unfolding as a tense nocturnal encounter that asks: how far can empathy stretch when shadowed by fear and doubt? Oscar-qualified after its Best International Short Film win at the Foyle Film Festival, After Dark has … Continue reading OSCAR CONTENDING DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT – Iain Forbes on AFTER DARK “How far would I go to help a stranger?”

OSCAR SHORTS SPOTLIGHT – Motherland Director Christina Yoon “It was important for me that the actors learned about the history of Korean adoptees”

We caught up with the award-winning Director Christina Yoon of the OSCAR-qualified short film MOTHERLAND. Christina Yoon’s Oscar® qualifying MOTHERLAND follows the emotional journey of Leah, an adoptee raised in America who travels to Korea to learn about her origins. However, when she gets there she finds herself presented with more questions than answers. This incredible film has qualified to be considered for a 2024 … Continue reading OSCAR SHORTS SPOTLIGHT – Motherland Director Christina Yoon “It was important for me that the actors learned about the history of Korean adoptees”

OSCAR QUALIFYING THE LONE WOLF: Director Spotlight on Filipe Melo

Can you tell us where the inspiration came from for the storyline of your short film, Lone Wolf? I listen to a lot of late-night radio, and the idea came to me while listening to a specific program on local Portuguese radio. Also, I really wanted to write a film that I could shoot with one actor, one location and one shot. A kind of variation … Continue reading OSCAR QUALIFYING THE LONE WOLF: Director Spotlight on Filipe Melo

Director Spotlight: Emir Kumova on WAR OF COLORS “I thought it would be more authentic and respectful if a speech about the Black experience was written by black individuals”

The poetry read by Diandra Forrest, was it penned by her or someone else? The poetry was written by a mixture of people. I wrote some of the lines that are about discrimination. The rest of the speeches that are about the Black experience were written by two African American female writers. I thought it would be more authentic and respectful if a speech about … Continue reading Director Spotlight: Emir Kumova on WAR OF COLORS “I thought it would be more authentic and respectful if a speech about the Black experience was written by black individuals”